Eyeglass construction



Feb. 23, 1937.- G. E. NEQIVVQNEY 2,071,893

EYEGLASS CONSTRUCTION Original Filed April 17, 1930 INVENTOR fieozye E. Ne; my

rsvQ/M Q ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1937 OFFICE EYEGLASS CONSTRUCTION George E. Nerney, Attleboro, Mass, assignor to Bay State Optical Company, a corporation of Maine Original application April 1'7, 1930, Serial No.

Divided and this application May 12,

1934, Serial N0. 725,297

2 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction of eyeglass frames.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a de vice of the above nature in which the material is so disposed as to attain a high degree of strength without heavy construction. Another object is to provide a device of the above nature in which the parts are securely held in assembled relation and yet conveniently taken apart. Other 1 objects are to provide a thoroughly practical eyeglass frame of attractive appearance, and one in which the obstruction to vision is reduced to a minimum. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and. arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter de scribed, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation, certain parts being shown in a partially disassembled position;

Figure 2 is atop plan view of the frame shown in Figure 1, certain parts being cut away to disclose the construction more clearly; and

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the frame shown in Figure 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawmg.

In this drawing there is shown at Ill a bridge, the end portions of which are downwardly extended, as at I l, and outwardly inclined to merge at their lower ends into the rims I2. As the construction is identical upon both sides of the frame, that on one only will be described. On the extension H is formed a guard arm l3 provided with a nose-pad l4, these parts being of any suitable detailed construction, but preferably having the guard arm of pliable material for purposes of adjustment.

45 One end of the rim I2 terminates in an end piece Hi to which it is secured, and which in turn is secured to or formed integral with at its other end the adjacent downward extension of the 50 bridge. This piece [5 is preferably horizontal and slightly above the horizontal axis of the rim,

thereby being somewhat inclined with respect to the adjacent portions of the latter. The remaining end of the rim is provided with an end piece It which rests upon end piece I5 and registers therewith while abutting against the adjacent portion of the bridge extension. With these end pieces thus positioned, the corresponding ends of the rim are in alignment, and there are provided, as indicated in dotted lines at I1, registering openings to receive a screw 18 threaded into the part ill by which the rim is held in closed position.

By this arrangeemnt for the end joint of the rim, a high degree of security is attained. In the first place, the inclina ion of the end pieces with respect to the radius of the rim imposes on the screw a stress inclined with respect to its axis if the rim tends to open, thus bringing into play the strength of the screw itself and not depending solely upon the threads cut therein. In the second place, the solid support of the end piece it at both ends, and the wedging of the end piece It into position between the bridge and lens, give a partially interlocking relation. which also coacts with the screw in holding the rim in closed condition.

At the outer portions of the rims l2 there are provided a pair of curved end members 19 which merge into or are formed integral with the rim at points respectively above and below its horizontal axis. These members l9 are curved not only in a vertical plane, as shown in Figure 1, but in a horizontal plane, as shown in Figure 2, and, at their outer point of connection 20, are spaced both to the rear as well as laterally out from the adjacent lens. The portion 20 is slotted and has pivotally secured therein, as by means of the screw 21, the adjacent perforated end of the temple 22. This pivotal point, being positioned as shown, carries the temple itself further from the eye and shortens the necessary length of the temple, thus decreasing the leverage upon its pivot and permitting a temple of lighter construction to be used. Also, the rearward displacement of the pivotal point permits the temples to be folded readily into positions parallel with the planes of the lenses.

It is to be particularly noted that the end members l9, although sufiiciently rigid to maintain the form into which they are placed, are nevertheless of such pliable nature that they may be manually adjusted when the frame is fitted. They may, for example, as shown in Figure 2, be adjusted inwardly, as indicated in the dotted lines 23, or outwardly, if desired, so as to vary the distance between the temples without materially affecting the length of the temples or necessitating the bending of the temple bars. Furthermore, they may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly,

as indicated at 24 in Figure 3, thus varying the inclination of the temple bars with respect to the plane of the lenses as desired. These adjustments, furthermore, may be readily accomplished without detracting from the symmetry and at tractive appearance of the frame as a whole.

By the above construction, not only are the above advantages achieved, but a high degree of visibility in all directions is attained. As indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, throughout a substantial angle, the opening formed by the members I 9 permits unobstructed vision in a lateral direction without lessening the strength and rigidity of the connection between the rim and the earloop of the temple. Furthermore, and in a somewhat similar way, the open construction between the parts H and neighboring portions of the rim l 2 gains a high degree of strength and stiffness and yet avoids obstruction of vision at this point. These features are particularly important in such relations as the driving of motor cars, in which even slight obstruction of vision is often dangerous.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a frame in which the several objects of this invention are achieved in an essentially practical manner without detracting from its appearance.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

This application is a division of my application, Serial No. 444,959 and filed April 1'7, 1930, now Patent No. 1,970,429.

I claim:

1. In an eyeglass, a bridge having downwardly extending and outwardly inclined end portions, a split lens rim having end pieces, one of which is integrally secured toan end portion of the bridge at a point above its end and means to further integrally secure the rim to the adjacent end portion of the bridge, a guard arm connected to the bridge between its points of connection to the lens rim, and means to detachably connect the end pieces together.

2. In an eyeglass, in combination, a split rim member, a pair of end pieces formed upon the ends of said split rim and projecting outwardly therefrom, releasable securing means therefor, and a separate bridge member integrally secured to both the lower end piece and to said rim member at a point spaced below the connection of said bridge member and said end piece, and a guard arm on said bridge between the said points of connection with the rim, the upper end piece being adapted to be moved freely with respect to said bridge and said lower end piece when released.

GEORGE E. NERNEY. 

